Well that didn't take long...newest Yamaha bike going into our garage

[Dirt_Dad]

Since 2012 we've always had two or more Yamaha bikes in the garage. So with this addition all is in balance in the world again.

When I say newest Yamaha, this appears to be the first delivery batch of the new model. So new, it's pretty much impossible to find any reviews of the bike. I did see a promise from one magazine it will be reviewed in the Jaunuary 2021 issue.

This is DM's new bike. She is beside herself excited about it.

Over the Columbus Day holiday we stayed at a ski resort and took a guided ride on a couple of Trek ebikes. It was an interesting experience riding down steep dirt hills, through incredibly tight woods trails, forest tracks, and up (yes, up) ski slopes. I was very impressed, DM was smitten. She fell hard for the ebike experience and has been on the internet researching ever since.

Most all ebikes are sold out due to COVID. Bike stores told us next delivery would be between January and July 2021. Yamaha announced this bike back in July, so this model missed the sales bonanza. Not to worry, the Yamaha dealer told us their first batch of this newly released model were starting to arrive. They had DM's size on order and it had not been pre-sold yet...so we placed the deposit. It arrived today and DM was chomping at the bit to get it.

We briefly talked about getting two bikes, but that's way too much money for me. I was amused by it, but I don't trust that it will hold my interest long enough to justify the cost. I'll see if she's still super motivated next spring, then will evaluate my interest to see if it's worthwhile.

I say it's in the garage, but actually DM is so excited she had me bring it in the house so she can look it over during the heavy rains forecast for tomorrow.

 

[Sierra1]

Mopeds have come a l-o-o-o-o-n-g way. Cool.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Still have to keep peddling this. So a moped is probably faster.

 

[Sierra1]

Is it not electric, or electric assist?

 

[ballisticexchris]

It's an electric assist. I test rode the Yamaha Ebike at last years motorcycle show and was sold on it. After getting on my feet I'lm thinking of getting the Yamaha or Trek Rail.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Yes, they call it pedal assist. Just like motorcycles, there are multiple modes. In the most helpful mode it will do 3.6 times the power of your pedal input.

She looked very seriously at the Trek Rail. Just could not find the justification for the extra $500 over the Yamaha YDX-Moro. Plus the delivery date of those is sometime next year.

 

[Madhatter]

very interesting machine , so how much cash to play ? how long does a charge last , does it charge as you peddle ? those type of questions answered please . is this bike found on the Yamaha motorcycle site ?

 

[scott123007]

Jon, I think Sierra is making a curious, but correct, point that that bike is indeed a moped. (motor/pedal)

 

[Sierra1]

Yes. Just like a plug-in hybrid car. I was assuming full electric for a set distance, with pedal power to keep you from getting stranded. Also assumed that the battery was under the plastic cover. We have stupid little Lime Scooters around here that people rent. Their batteries don't look near as big, and they last a good amount of time. I'm also guessing that pedaling will slowly recharge the battery. My mom's Honda Hobbit had a gas motor instead of the Yamaha's electric. The Honda's pedal option was all but useless. This seems to be much better. Of course it's been 40 years. . . .

 

[Nikolajsen]

Congratulation

 

[MonkeyBut]

I test pedaled a Yamaha eBike at the New York Motorcycle Show 2019. First experience with any type of eBike. All I can say to describe it is, 'while pedaling it feels like the hand of God is grabbing the back of the seat and pushing you along.' Enjoy your new ride DM.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

very interesting machine , so how much cash to play ? how long does a charge last , does it charge as you peddle ? those type of questions answered please . is this bike found on the Yamaha motorcycle site ?

DM would be better at all these questions, but I take a swing at it.

Huge range of prices to play. I've seen ebikes for as low as $1,750, and as high as $17,000. Yamaha prices seem to be between $3,000 to close to $7,000. The Yamaha mountain bike with no rear suspension is listed at $3K. We got DM the full suspension due to multiple back surgeries, want to give her every advantage possible. This Yamaha Moro is the mid level mountain bike for Yamaha.

No, it does not charge as you pedal. The bike will not move an inch unless you pedal. Okay, that's not exactly true. It does have a walking mode with allows you to push and hold a button and the bike will walk along side you as you push it. Good for walking a 53 lb bike up a hill if needed. Otherwise, the battery and motor only exist to provide energy for, not receive from, the rider.

Distance claims are all over the place. Put it in the 360% assistance mode and it's said to only go 20 miles. Leave it in a more economical range and I think it's more in the high 50 miles (again, DM has looked at this stuff, not me).

I was assuming full electric for a set distance, with pedal power to keep you from getting stranded.

Honestly I had no idea what to assume when booking the ebike tour at the ski resort. I made the innocent mistake when looking over the bike upon arrival and asking "does it have a throttle?" That set me up to be the butt of all staff jokes for the rest of the tour. When told, no, you have to pedal to make it go, I'll admit DM and I both got a little nervous. Last bikes we rode bicycles we were on the boardwalk at a beach a year ago. We both wondered if we'd be able to do it. The others on the ride were in full mountain biking gear and appeared to be bike savy.

Our first direction was up the mountain from the tour building. This initial paved ride was no more difficult than a ride on a level to slightly declined road. We relaxed a little, but the ride only tackled progressively more, and more challenging terrain. We'd stop, the guide would tell us what mode to put the bikes in, and we'd ride up a short rough trail, or down a steepish mountain two track. At the bottom was a cabin and the guide told us the two track we just rode down is where customers often get stuck and panic when driving the 4-wheelers back up from the cabin. She told us the guides frequently have to take over the driving for the customers to get them out. Then she pointed us back up the mountain and led us 3/4 of the way up to a turn off for a forest trail. DM and I were not the fastest, but we made it without stopping. The ride had more challenges and ended with riding up a rocky ski slope.

I would not have been able to do the first 5 minutes of this ride without wearing myself out. It's not a free ride. You do have to pedal and you do get exercise. But you can do feats you would never consider on a bicycle, and enjoy it. DM wanted it for the exercise of it. I rode it up the mountain here last night in a spot where I took her regular bike two days earlier. Going 1/2 way up that incline caused me to quit, coast home, and not be able to talk for the next 5 minutes. Last night I rode up it twice with the Yamaha, felt the exercise as I did it, then returned it to DM without falling over. She did it a bunch of times.

...All I can say to describe it is, 'while pedaling it feels like the hand of God is grabbing the back of the seat and pushing you along.' Enjoy your new ride DM.

Pretty good description....and thanks. She's very excited.

 

[ballisticexchris]

Yes, they call it pedal assist. Just like motorcycles, there are multiple modes. In the most helpful mode it will do 3.6 times the power of your pedal input.

She looked very seriously at the Trek Rail. Just could not find the justification for the extra $500 over the Yamaha YDX-Moro. Plus the delivery date of those is sometime next year.

The Trek Rail is in stock at the bike shops here in CA. That being said you made an excellent choice. I have not ridded the Rail but I have ridden the Yamaha (lower end model than yours). You got a whole bunch of bike for the dollar. Happy for you and your wife.

very interesting machine , so how much cash to play ? how long does a charge last , does it charge as you peddle ? those type of questions answered please . is this bike found on the Yamaha motorcycle site ?

Here is the link Terry:

E Bike | Yamaha E Bikes

Yamaha e-bikes enable more roads and trails bicycle riding. Cutting edge electric bike motors, reliable, long-lasting batteries and intuitive controls make Yamaha e bikes the perfect do-more ride. Yamahabicycles.com

www.yamahabicycles.com

 

[Dirt_Dad]

The Trek Rail is in stock at the bike shops here in CA. That being said you made an excellent choice. I have not ridded the Rail but I have ridden the Yamaha (lower end model than yours). You got a whole bunch of bike for the dollar. Happy for you and your wife.

Interesting you have them out there. We were told January would be the earliest for the Rail here. The Trek PowerFly would be June.

Based on photos from the ski resort the Trek store we visisted said it looked like we rode the Rail. It did great. DM liked it so much she really focused on it. I had to gently suggest there are other companies out there. Fortunately we both have a lot of faith in Yamaha.

 

[ballisticexchris]

Here is a lower end 2020 Rail 5 in the local Jax bike shop in my town:

Trek Rail 5

Rail 5 is an electric mountain bike built for ripping the big stuff. It features the same high-end trail tech as our analog trail bikes, plus a powerful new Bosch drive system that's basically like...

www.jaxbicycles.com

The higher end ones such as the 2020-2021 Rail 7 and 9 series are dependent on size. Most of the small and medium are available in store. Large frames are harder to come buy and have to be ordered. I have owned a few Treks and will tell you the sizes run small. I'm 5'9 with 31" inseam and the recommended mediums feel like a small. I gave away my carbon medium to my ex wife when we divorced.

 

[Sierra1]

Interesting you have them out there. . . .

They have two of the key ingredients . . . . money, and weather.

 

[ballisticexchris]

They have two of the key ingredients . . . . money, and weather.

And a crooked uhhh nevermind.....

 

[Checkswrecks]

Very cool. A friend got a folding e-bike to carry in his Commanche airplane and loves the thing.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I flew a Comanche once. Was very quick.
The bike must fold very small.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

....'while pedaling it feels like the hand of God is grabbing the back of the seat and pushing you along.' .

After riding it this weekend, I think DM and I both describe it as, 'it takes the suck out of riding a bicycle.' We live on a mountain, so there is no level terrain any where. Trying to be supportive of DM and her new toy, I got on a regular mountain bike to join her. It truly sucked!! She never needed to get off once to walk a section. I cannot say the same.